Frost shield



Jan. 18, 1938. y J, R-TH0'RP l Re. 20,628

FROST SHIELD Original Filed Oct. 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 '/8 /6 /5INVENTOR.

l y Mu/vm ,1239. i -f- -v lATTORNEY@ Jan. 18, 1938.- .1. R. THORP Re20,628

FROST SHIELD Original Filed Oct. 27, 1935 2 ,Sheets-Sheet 2 3;. MATTQRNEY.

Reiseued Jan. 18, 1938 FROST 'SHIELD Joel a. Thorp. west Ams, wis.,signor u The Fulton Compllly, West Allis, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Original No. 2,002,722, dated May 28, 1935, Serial No.695,405, October 27, 1933. Application for reissue September 24, 1935,Serial No. 41,956

`19 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to lmprovements in devices forinsuring clear vision for the driver and other occupants of a vehicle,and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction andoperation of so-called frost shields which are cooperable with thewindshields and other windows of an automobile or other vehicle for thepurpose of insuring a clear I view of the external surroundings undermost 10 adverse weather conditions.

Generally dened, an object of the present invention is to provide animproved clear vision device, which is simple and durable inconstruction, and which is, moreover, highly eillcient in operation.'

Numerous appliances intended for the purpose of maintaining clear visionthrough the windshields and other windows of enclosed automobiles or thelike, have heretofore been proposed, but all of these prior devices aremore or less complicated, inefllcient, and otherwise objectionable.A-practical clear vision shield must not only be capable ofaccomplishing the desired result under the most adverse weatherconditions, but it must also Vbe durable in construction, neat ingeneralappearance, unobstructive to the view at all times, andsufiiciently simple to permit manufacture and sale thereof at moderatecost.

It should not be necessary, with such a device,

to resort to artificial heating of the shield under all visionobstructing weather conditions, since many of these conditions may beeifectively combatted without such heat if a perfectly sealed air spaceis provided adjacent the window in the line of vision of the occupant ofthe car. Such an accessory is, moreover, desirable only during certainseasons of the year, and should, thereiore, be readily removable fromthe window, and it should above all require minimum attention and offerleast possible interference to the drivers view of the road.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide animproved frost shield which meets all of these desirable requirements,and 45, which may be conveniently supplied with artiii- I cial heatwhenever such is necessary.

Another specic object of the invention is to provide a simple and wellconstructed frame structure for detachable clear vision devices, wherebysuch devices will present a neat appearance and may be manufactured atminimum cost.

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide anelectrically heated clear vision appliance which may be readilyinstalled and oper- :,r, ated, and which provides a hermetically sealed(Cl. 21B-19) airspace introducing a clear vision area of desirabledimensions in the line of vision of the driver or occupants of thevehicle with which the appli-i of operating several types of frostshields built' in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to thedrawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification in whichlike reference characters designate the same or similar parts in thevarious views.

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a fragment of a frost coated vehiclewindshield, showing one type of the improved frost shield attached tothe rear surface thereof;

Fig. 2 is a reversed front view of the frost shield of Fig.A l, with theheater'energizing plug connector omitted therefrom;

. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through the i'rostshield, taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary further enlarged longitudinal vertical sectionthrough the frost shield, taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similarly enlarged transverse section .through the frame ofthe frost shield, taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a likewise enlarged transverse section through the frame ofthe frost shield, taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 'l is a similarly enlarged transverse section through the frame ofthe frost shield, taken along the line 1 1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a rear view of a fragment of a frost coated vehiclewindshield, showing another type of improved frost shield attached tothe rear surface thereof;

Fig. 91s a reversed front view of the frost shield of Fig. 8, with theheater venergizing plugl connector omitted therefrom;

Fig. l0 is an enlarged transverse vertical section i through the'modified frost shield, taken along the line i0 |0 of Fig. 8; q

Fig. 11 is a similarly enlarged similar section through the modifiedfrost shieldshowing portions of the structure 'omitted so as to clearlyillustrate the frame construction;

Fig. l2 is a further enlarged transverse section through the frame of amodified' frost shield, taken along the line |2-I2 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 13 is a similarly further enlarged transfrost shield, taken alongthe line I3--I3 of Fig. 9.

While the improved devices are generally designatedI herein as frostshields, it should be unv derstood that these appliances are not merelycapable of maintaining the windows to which they are applied, free fromfrost deposits, butr also function to prevent other vision obstructingcoatings or deposits. f

-a groove I8 formedin the seal I6; supporting elements I9 carried by cndbrackets y20 secured to the opposite ends of the main frame; and v oneor more heating elements 2i carried byan'd spanning the main frameadjacent to the transparent sheet II.

The band I5 is preferably formed of resilient but relatively stiffmaterial such as a fiat metal strip, and the embedding seal I6 may beformed of rubber or other relatively flexible material moulded aroundand vulcanized or otherwise attached to the resilient core. This frameforming material may be produced in strip form, of proper length toprovide a. continuous sealing structure when bent into its finalrectangular or other shape, and the groove I8 is of such depth that themetal strip `or band will not be exposed, and so that a spacing cushionof rubber will always be interposed between the band I6 and the edge ofthe 'sheet I`I confined within the groove I8, as clearly indicated inFigs. 5, 6, and 7. The confined resilient band I5 of the frame may alsobe biased inwardly between the corners o1' the completed frame so as toinsure retention of the `edges of the sheet II within the groove I8, andthe edge of the sealv I6, which normally contacts with the main window22 may be formed as a continuous highly flexible lip 23 in order toinsure most effective sealing when the frame is in normal use.` l

The transparent sheet II-may be` formed of ordinary glass, cut to fitsnugly within the groove I6 of the seal I6, and is held by this groovesome distance away from the main Window 22 so as to provideanintervening air space. The supporting elements I9 may be ordinary rubbersuction cups detachably secured to the end brackets 2li by means ofclamping members 2l coacting with threaded studs formed integral withthe cups. 'Ihe brackets 20 may be formed of sheet 1 metal, and arefirmly attached to the metal band "main frame near the other bracket 20.conductors 21 may be `formed of one piece of I6 by means of screws 25 asshown in Figs. 4 and 7. and although a thin sheet of rubber forming partof the seal I6, is interposed between the `band vI 5 and each of thebrackets 2U, these brackets are conductively connected to the frame bandby the screws 25. I

One of the brackets 20 is provided with integral metal ears 26 as shownin'Fig. '7, and these ears 26 pierce the rubber seal I6` and may contactwith the band I5, thus providing attaching loops for the adjacent endsof the wire heating elements 2|. `'I'he metal band I6' provides anelectrical conductor communicating with these ends oi.' the elements 2l,and the opposite ends of the elements 2| are attached to leaf springconductors 21 secured to the opposite end of the The Averse sectionthrough the `frame of the modified lmetal, and coact with the inner faceoi the rubpoint 32 serves as a clamping nut coacting with one of thebolts 29, while another contact point 33 is connected directly to theband I5 by means of a screw 36. With this assemblage of elements, thecorresponding ends of the wire heating elements 2| are conductivelyconnected `through theconductors 21 and one of the bolts 29 with thecontact point 32, Abeing insulated from the band I5; and the oppositecorresponding ends of these wires are conductively connectveci throughbracket 20, band l5 and screw 3l with the other contact point 33.,v Thepoints 32, 33 are however insulated with `respect to each other by theinsulating piece 3|, and a. detachable plug connector A35 is adapted toconnect the -points 32, l33 with any suitable source of electric currentsuch as the battery of an ordinary automobile. As previouslyindicated,lthe wire heating elements 2I span the interior of the mainframe, beinglocated within the air space provided by the seal I6 andsheet I'I, and also being spaced both fromthe sheet I'I and from themalnwindow 22. n

Referring specifically to Figs. 8 to 13 inclusive of the drawings, theimproved modified frost shield shown therein, comprises in general a substantially rectangularV frame composed of a. band I5', a continuous sealI6', and an outer retainer 36; a transparent sheet II coacting along itsY peripheral edge portion with a groove formed by the adjacent edge ofthe seal I6' and by an inwardly projecting flange 31 of the retainer`36;supporting elements I9' carried by brackets 20,' formed integral withthe retainer 36 at the four corners thereof; and one or more heatingelements 2i' carried by and spanning the main frame adjacent to thetransparent sheet l1'.

The band I5' is again preferably formed of relatively stiff resilientflat metal strip, while the seal I6' -is formed of rubber having acontinuous outwardly directed sealing flange 23' at one edge thereof andalso having an inwardly directed spacer ange 38 disposed between thesheet I1 and the adjacent edge of the band I6. The outer retainer 36 andthe brackets 20 may be formed of one piece of' sheet metal, and thethree frame elements are permanently interconnected to provide a unitarystructure, by meansv of split rivets 25' which may have insulatingwashers 30' for electrically insulating the band, I5' from the retainer36 as shown in detail in Fig. 13. The transparent sheet I1' which isalso preferably formed Aof glass, is confined along its entireperipheral edge, between the inner edge portionof a resilient flange 31of the retainer 36 and the flange 36 of the seal I6', and these flangesby virtue of their resiliency will` provide a. tightseal withoutsubjecting the sheet I1' to excessive stresses due to the clamping ofthe frame elements to each other. When the outer ange 23' is brought incontact with a main window 22, a sealed air space isV again providedbetween the sheet I1' and window 22 within the frame. -The supportingelements I9' may also be ordinary rubber suction cups detachably securedto the end brackets 2Il' by means oi' clamping members 2l' engagingthreaded studs secured to the cups', as clearly shown in Fig. 12.

till

iii

The wire heating elements 2| of the modified frost shield, have theircorresponding ends secured directly to the adjacent shortside of theframe band IB and within the seal il,and have their oppositecorresponding ends connected to leaf spring conductors 21', as disclosedin Figs. 8 and 9. These heating elements are again spaced from both thesheet I 1 andthe window 22 and are' disposed within the air spacepreviously described, and the extreme ends of the band i5' are spacedfrom the conductors 21' being supported directly from an insulatingblock Il' by meansl oi' screws 29'. The screws 28' 'pass directlythrough the rubber seal ii' but do not touch the outer retainer 36,being insulated from this retainer as shown in Figs. 1l vancl 12, andone of these attaching screws 29' serves to hold a contact point 32'within the insulator block Il'. Another contact point 32' is likewiseheld within the insulator block 3|', by means of a screw 24' whichcoacts directly with the adjacent end of the band Il', but is alsoinsulated vi'rom the outer retainerl I8 as indicated in Fig. v11. A plugconnector "is adapted to coact with the contact points 32', 3l', and itis to be noted that the band I5 functions as a conductor associated withcorresponding ends of the wire elements 2l', while the conductor 21 issimilarly associated with the opposite corresponding ends oi' theseelements. The outer retainer 26, is, however, insulated from both theband I5 and conductor 21', and is never charged with electric current.

From the foregoing description, the manner of attaching the improvedfrost shield to a main windshield, should be clearly apparent. it beingpreferable in applying one of these shields `to a window, to have thesuction cups and the continuous seal provided at their contactingsurfaces with a slight amount of sealing fluid in order-to improve theholding and sealing eil'ect. In order to utilize the heating elements,it is only necessary to attach the plug connector, whereupon the wiresspanning the interior ofthe frame will heatlthe confined air within thespace between the transparent sheet and the main window, and willthereby effectively prevent i'rost and other moisture from accumulatingupon the outer surface of the main window and will thus insure clearvision. It is not, however, necessary to utilize the heating elements,since the provision of an air space alone will tend to maintain clearvision through the main window. In each of the frost shields disclosed,the metal band cooperating with the rubber seal, serves the dualfunction of retaining the seal in shape and of supporting the heatingelements, and in no case is the outer retaining frame charged so thatshort-circuiting might occur. Both of these frost shields can be readilymanufactured at relatively low cost, and have been found extremelyeffective in accomplishing their intended purposes. The improved framestructures present a neat and highly finished appearance, and produceminimum obstruction to the view of the occupants of a vehicle with whichthey are associated, and by preventing direct co'ntact betweenthetransparent shields and the supporting metallic parts, breakage oftheseshields is eiectively eliminated. If so desired, the suction cupattachers may be omitted entirely and the cementing of the seals to thewindow may alone be resorted to and i-n some instances ,the heatingelements may be entirely omitted from the appliances. It should also benoted that two or more suction cups appropriately arranged about theouter frame. may be utilized in either oi the improved structuresinstead of the precise number of cups shown, and that the use of theheating elements is desirable when ice, sleet and frost are to bedispelled. The fact that the flange 21 only has line edge contact withthe glass sheet, is also of importance in eliminating glass breakage,and the retainer frame 38 need not necessarily be insulated from theconductor band I5.

vIt should be understood that it is not `desired to limit the inventionto the exact details of construction herein shown and described, forvarious modifications within the scope of the claims may occur topersons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to`secure by Letters Patent: g

1. In combination, a frame comprising a metal band embedded within arubber seal, a transparent sheet coacting along its entire peripheraledge with said seal within said band, said band being spaced from theperipheral edge of said sheet and biased to press said seal fintointimate contact with said sheet edge, and heatingmeans carried by saidband and disposed within said frame.

2. In combination, a frame comprising a continuous metal band embeddedentirely within a rubber seal having a groove therein within said band,a transparent sheet coacting with said groove and spaced from said band,and heating means comprising a wire spanning said frame, t)

said wire having one end conductively connected to said band and havingits opposite end insulated therefrom.

3. In combination, a frame comprising a continuous rectangular metalband embedded within a rubber seal having a groove in the side thereofand having a flexible lip remote from the groove, atransparent sheetcoacting with said groove entirely within and spaced from the band, anda supporting bracket for connecting the ends of the band to produce acontinuous frame while maintaining the adjacent ends of the band spacedapart.

4. In combination, a frame comprising a metal band, a transparent sheetdisposed entirely within said band near one edge thereof, a continuousrubber seal supported by said frame and forming a lining for theinterior of said band, said seal having a continuous preformed internalgroove receiving the edge of said sheet and providing an inwardlyprojecting flange at one edge of the seal coacting directly with theperipheral portion of said sheet and also having a continuous pre--formed outwardly directed sealing lip at its opposite edge projectinglaterally with respect to the opposite edge of said band, and heatingmeans carried by said band and spanning said frame.

5. In combination, a frame comprising a continuous metal band coactingwith a rubber seal forming a lining for the interior of the band andhaving inwardly and` outwardly extending preformed continuous integralportions at the oppoi site edges thereof, a transparent sheet coactingalong its entire peripheral edge with said inwardly projecting sealportion within said band, said outwardly extending seal portion beingdisposed beyond the edge of said band remote from said sheet andprojecting outwardly beyond the periphery of said band and said bandbeing resilient and biased inwardly to press said seal into intimatecontact with said sheet edge, and heating means carried by said band anddisposed within said frame.

6. In combination, a frame comprising a continuous metal band, atransparent sheet disposed forming a lining for the interior of the bandand `wardly extending lip being disposed beyond the' having a.continuous preformed internal groove and a continuous preformedoutwardly extending lip adjacent the opposite edges thereof, atransparent sheet coacting along its entire peripheral edge with saidgrove within said band, said outedge of said band remote from said sheetand projecting outwardly beyond the periphery of said band and said bandbeing formed to press said vseal into intimate contact with said sheetedge,

and, heating means carried by said posed within said frame.

8. In combination, a Vcontinuous metal frame, a transparent sheetdisposed entirely within said frame near one edge thereof, a continuousrubber band and disseal supported by and forming a lining for therinterior of said frame. said seal having a continuous preformed internalgroove for directly receiving the entire peripheral edge portion of saidsheet and also having a continuousl preformed laterally projectingsealed lip remote from said groove and extending outwardly beyond saidframe, and heating means carried by and disposed within said frame.

9. In combination, a rectangular frame coacting with a rubber sealiorming a lining for the interior of the frame and having a continuouspreformed internal groove and a, continuous preformed outwardlyextending lip adjacent the opposite edges thereof, a transparent sheethaving its entire peripheral edge confined within said groove, said lipbeing disposed beyond the edge of said frame remote from said sheet andprojecting outwardly beyondA the periphery of said frame and said framebeing formed to press said seal into intimate contact with said sheetedge, and heating means carried by said band and disposed within saidframe.

10. A windshield heater comprising a pane of l glass. a glass-carryingmember of rubber encircling the pane of glass and having on its innerface a groove in which the edge. of the glass is received and alsohaving a windshield-engaging lip, said glass-carrying member having aluniform cross-*sectional area throughout, a metal supporting memberencircling the glass-'carrying member and clamping the latter to theedge of the glass, said metal supporting member having offset portionsassociated therewith, and suction cups carried by the offset portionsfor securing the heater to a windshield.

11. A Windshield heater comprising a pane of glass, a glass-carryingmember of rubber encircling said pane of glass and having on its innerface a groove in which the edge of the glass is received and also havinga Windshield-engaging lip, a band of metal encircling the glasscarryingmember and holding the latter in clamping relation to `the edge of theglass, said band of metal having outwardly-extending arms associatedtherewith, suction cups carried by said arms for attaching the heater toa'windshield 'and an electric heating element extending from one side tothe other of the heater and situated on the windshield side of the paneof glass.

12. A windshield heater comprisingk a pane of glass, a `glass-carryingmember of rubber encircling the glass and having on its inner face agroove to receive the edge of the glass and also having awindshield-engaging lip, a metal supporting member encircling the rubberglasscarrying member andholding the latter clamped lto the edge of theglass, said metal supporting member having outwardly-extending armsassociatd therewith, suction cups carried by said arms for holding theheater to the windshield, an electric heating unit carried by thesupporting frame and situated on the windshield side of the glass.

13. A Windshield heater comprising a pane of glass, a glass-carryingmember or,` rubberencircling the pane of glass and having on its innerface a preformed groove in which theedge of the glass is received andalso having a windshieldengaging lip, said glass-carrying member havinga uniform cross-sectional area throughout, a

metal supporting member encircling the glass# receiving groove andclamping the glass-carrying member to the edge of the glass, said metalsupporting member having outwardly extending rigid portions associatedtherewith, and suction cups carried by said outwardly extending portionsfor securing said metal supporting member to a windshield. Y

14. A windshield heater comprising a pane of glass, a glass-carryingmember of rubber encircling said pane of glass and having on its inner`face a preformed groove to receive the edge of the glass and also havinga Windshield-engaging lip, a frame of metal encircling theglass-engaging groove and holding said glass-carrying member in clampingrelation to the edge of the glass,

said frame having outwardly extending portions associated therewith,suction cups carried by said outwardly extending portions for attachingthe heater to a windshield, and an electric heating element extendingfrom one side toy the other of said frame and situated on the windshieldside oi the pane of glass.

15. A windshield heater comprising a pane of glass, a glass-carryingmember of rubber encircling the glass and having on its inner face apreformed groove to receive the edge of the glass i and also having 'awindshield-engaging lip, a

metal supporting frame encircling the grooveV and holding saidglass-carrying member clamped to the edge of the glass, said framehaving rigid` outwardly extending portions associated therewith at theopposite ends thercovsuction cups carried -by said outwardlyextendingportions for attachingfsaid frame to the windshield, and an electricheating unit carried by and spanning the supporting frameandsituatedon'the windshield side of the glass. i

16. In combination, a continuous rubber seal having an inner groove anda continuous outwardly directed flexible lip 'disposed laterally of saidgroove, a transparent sheet having its peripheral edge conned withinsaid groove, a eentinuous metal band embracing the grooved. portion ofsaid seal in the plane of said sheet and disposed remote from said lip,suction cups for attaching said band to a windshield with said lip incontact with the latter.' and heating means spanning the space Withinsaid seal between said sheet and the windshield.

17. In combination, a continuous rubber sealV having an inner groove anda. continuous outwardly directed iexible 'lip disposed laterally of saidgroove, a transparent sheet having its peripheral edge confined withinsaid groove. a continuous metal band embracing the grooved por- 'tionoisaid seal in the plane of said sheet and a windshield with said np incontact-with the I' latter, and heating means spanning the space withinsaid seal between said sheet and the windshield. t

19. In combination, a continuous rubber seal having an inner preformedgroove and a continuous ilexible lip disposed laterally of said groove,a transparent sheet having its peripheral edge confined within saidgroove, a metal band embracing the grooved portion of said seal in theplane of said sheet and disposed remote from said lip, and suction cupsfor attaching said band to a windshield with said lip in contact withthe latter,

JOEL R. THORP.

